(LONDON)Barnet Council, code: 53j, restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian zone, Cricklewood Lane/Dersingham Rd

Hello everyone,

First time poster but I received the following PCN from Barnet council.

53j - Failing to comply with a restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian zone (camera enforcement)

Date and Time 24th of June at 15:58

Location is Cricklewood Lane Into Dersingham Road NW2
here is the google maps link

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. · maps.app.goo.gl

PCN number: AG9668349A

Car registration: LS24UFN

I have entered the road which is a school street at 15:58 there is a restriction between 15:00 and 16:00 in the afternoon. However, I didn't see the signage at any point before, during and after turning into the road. The first time I learned about it was when the notice was posted to my mum (keeper of the car) even though I was driving at the time. I'm really careful as school roads are popping everywhere in London and I wouldn't enter one if I knew.

Here is a copy of the PCN (Sorry I spilled my tea on it)

First PCN letter.pdf

Google Docs · drive.google.com

I have my own dashcam recording of the incident. Currently the council website seems broken when I try to access their evidence, but will try to upload it here once their website works again.

Regarding the signs that the council has installed, there is sign pre-warning on Cricklewood Road but it is small and I have missed it and even if I didn't there is no way to read it as you are driving at 30mph(speed limit).

There are only one sign on the left hand side of the entrance but that cannot be seen because it is blocked by some trees and it is angled at 90 degrees and so you cannot read it unless you stop the car and put your head against the windscreen to be able to read it, giving yourself a neck injury in the process

The council's own website states that there should be two signs at the entrance of the school road

Pardon Our Interruption

barnet.gov.uk

I have appealed on two grounds:

1- I didn't not know that it was a school road as there no indication of the restriction and the only sign that I saw was the change of speed limit from 30 to 20. I have attached the following still from my dash cam video

Screenshot 2026-07-20 at 13.51.17.jpg

Google Docs · drive.google.com

2- According to your own website (I have attached a pdf of it) it states that on the entrance of road "will be present on both sides of the mouth of the road where the School Street restrictions apply"

Appeal is rejected

Appeal outcome.pdf

Google Docs · drive.google.com

Here is some dash cam footage that I have as I went there a few times, dashcam is recording with fisheye view so it's getting a lot of things that would be in peripheral vision of a human

The incident, camera is mounted on passengerside

First time to show that sign can't be seen clearly (driving slowly due to scooter), camera is mounted on passengerside

Second time driving at speed limit without turning into the road, the sign is covered. camera is mounted on driverside

Third time driving at speed limit and turning into the road, the sign is covered. camera is mounted on driverside

I took a few pictures of the location.

https://imgpile.com/p/quIer4X

Do people think I have a strong case or should I just pay up while it is still £80??

The advanced sign does diminish the strength of your case. However, with a bus stop just before it, it could be obscured by a stopped bus, or one just starting off from the stop. Could this have been your case ?

Anyway, whatever you present to the council, they will reject it. This is because if they do this, and re-offer the discount, most people just fold and cough-up to get the discount, being nervous about adjudication and think it will cost them hundreds, (lkke going to court instead of paying a fixed penalty for speeding). In fact the only financial cost if a case is lost is the full PCN penalty, so it's a bit of a 'double-or-quits' gamble.

So successful are councils and TfL at gaming the system like this that they are now making about £650 million from PCN penalties per year. So any hope of no bias when a council considers reps is total naivety.

Does anyone know if it is possible to pay £80 and also take the council to the London tribunals? or is paying an admission of guilt??

Also, Do you know if other people who won based on lack of adequate signage? I went back to the place more than once and I cannot see the sign before and during turning into the road, let alone read all the timings.

I realise that going the going to the tribunals means I will have to pay £160 if I lose, but if other people might have won in similar cases then I might go ahead as matter of principle.

Finally, does the fact that the council's own website states that there will be two signs count at the tribunals?

Paying the discount means you admit the contravention, so you cannot then appeal.

(LONDON)Barnet Council, code: 53j, restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian zone, Cricklewood Lane/Dersingham Rd

(LONDON)Barnet Council, code: 53j, restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian zone, Cricklewood Lane/Dersingham Rd

Re: (LONDON)Barnet Council, code: 53j, restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian zone, Cricklewood Lane/Dersingham R

Re: (LONDON)Barnet Council, code: 53j, restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian zone, Cricklewood Lane/Dersingham R

Re: (LONDON)Barnet Council, code: 53j, restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian zone, Cricklewood Lane/Dersingham R